Strong Songs

Strong Songs

By Kirk HamiltonMusicMusic Commentary
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Strong Songs episodes

  • "Águas de Março (The Waters of March)" by Antônio Carlos Jobim & Elis Regina

    Kirk digs into the work of master composer Antônio Carlos Jobim via his timeless 1974 duet with Elis Regina on his song "Águas de Marçco," known Stateside as "The Waters of March." He's joined by special guest Frederico Barros, Professor of Musicology at Federal University of Rio De Janeiro.

    Written by: Antônio Carlos Jobim

    Performed by: Jobim and Elis Regina

    Album: Elis & Tom (1974)

    Listen/Buy via Songwhip

    ALSO DISCUSSED:

    • "The Girl From Ipamena" and "Desefinado" by Tom Jobim from Getz/Gilberto, 1964
    • "Corcovado (Quiet Night of Quiet Stars)," "Triste," and "Bigras Nunca Mais" by Jobim from Elis & Tom, 1974 and Getz/Gilberto, 1964
    • "Felicidade" by Jobim recorded by Vince Maggio and Mark Colby from Reunion, 1999
    • Chega de Saudade by Jobim as recorded by the Dizzy Gillespie Sextet

    --------------------

    MARCH 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

    Robyn Metcalfe
    Brian Templet
    Cesar
    Bob Tucker
    Corpus Frisky
    Ben Barron
    Catherine Warner
    Damon White
    Kaya Woodall
    Jay Swartz
    Miriam Joy
    SEAN D WINNIE
    Rush
    Daniel Hannon-Barry
    Christopher Miller
    Jamie White
    Christopher McConnell
    David Mascetti
    Joe Laska
    Ken Hirsh
    Jez
    Melanie Andrich
    Jenness Gardner
    Dave Sharpe
    Sami Samhuri
    Jeremy Dawson
    AccessViolation
    Andre Bremer
    Dave Florey

    MARCH 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONS

    Lauren Knotts
    Dave Kolas
    Henry Mindlin
    Monica St. Angelo
    Stephen Wolkwitz
    Suzanne
    Rand LeShay
    Max
    eric sp
    Matthew Jones
    Thomas
    Anthony Mentz
    James McMurry
    Ethan Laser
    Brian John Peter
    Chris Remo
    Matt Schoenthal
    Aaron Wilson
    Dent Earl
    Carlos Lerner
    Misty Haisfield
    Abraham Benrubi
    Christopher Bruno
    Chris Kotarba
    Callum Webb
    Lynda MacNeil
    Dick Morgan
    Ben Stein
    Susan Green
    Sean Murphy
    Thirteen71
    Alan Brough
    Randal Vegter
    Go Birds!
    Robert Granat
    dave malloy
    Nick Galloway
    Heather J
    john halpin
    Peter Harding
    David
    John Bauman
    Martín Salías
    Stu Baker
    Steve Martino
    Dr Arthur A Gray
    Carolina
    Gary Pierce
    Matt Baxter
    Luigi Boccia
    E Margaret Warton
    Charles McGee
    Catherine Clause
    Ethan Bauman
    KenIsWearingAHat
    Jordan Block
    Aaron Wade
    Jeff Ulm
    David Futter
    Jamie
    Deebs
    Portland Eye Care
    Carrie Schneider
    Richard Sneddon
    Doreen Carlson
    David McDarby
    Wendy Gilchrist
    Elliot Rosen
    Lisa Turner
    Paul Wayper
    Bruno Gaeta
    Kenneth Jung
    Adam Stofsky
    Zak Remer
    Rishi Sahay
    Jason Reitman
    Ailie Fraser
    Rob Tsuk
    NATALIE MISTILIS
    Josh Singer
    Amy Lynn Thornsen
    Adam W
    Kelli Brockington
    Victoria Yu
    mino capossela
    Steve Paquin
    David Joske
    Bernard Khoo
    Robert Heuer
    David Noah
    Geraldine Butler
    Madeleine Mader
    Jason Pratt
    Abbie Berg
    Doug Belew
    Dermot Crowley
    Achint Srivastava
    Ryan Rairigh
    Michael Berman
    Linda Duffy
    Bonnie Prinsen
    Liz Seger
    Eoin de Burca
    Kevin Potter
    M Shane Borders
    Dallas Hockley
    Jason Gerry
    Nathan Gouwens
    Lauren Reay
    Eric Prestemon
    Cookies250
    Damian Brady
    Angela Livingstone
    Sarah Sulan
    Diane Hughes
    Michael Casner
    Lowell Meyer
    Stephen Tsoneff
    Joshua Hill
    Wen
    Geoff Golden
    Pascal Rueger
    Randy Souza
    Clare Holberton
    Diane Turner
    Tom Coleman
    Dhu Wik
    Mel D
    Eric Helm
    Jonathan Daniels
    Michael Flaherty
    Caro Field
    michael bochner
    Naomi Watson
    David Cushman
    Alexander
    Chris K
    Gavin Doig
    Sam Fenn
    Tanner Morton
    AJ Schuster
    Jennifer Bush
    David Stroud
    Brad Callahan
    Amanda Furlotti
    Andrew Baker
    Andrew Fair
    L.B. Morse
    Bill Thornton
    Brian Amoebas
    Brett Douville
    Jeffrey Olson
    Matt Betzel
    Nate from Kalamazoo
    Melanie Stivers
    Richard Toller
    Alexander Polson
    Earl Lozada
    Justin McElroy
    Arjun Sharma
    James Johnson
    Kevin Morrell
    Colin Hodo

    --------------------

    FRED'S PLAYLIST NOTES:

    • 1 x 0 - traditional choro, Pixinguinha playing sax and sort of inventing “Brazilian counterpoint” - in the second part of this piece, when it modulates to G major, you’ll hear the sax play a rhythmic figure important to Aquarela do Brasil (see below);
    • Espinha de Bacalhau - choro, played by an orchestra that was created with the aim of playing Brazilian music in the manner of American Big Bands;
    • O Relógio da Vovó - the Trio Surdina was comprised of musicians who worked at the Radio Nacional (where Jobim would also work as an arranger) and whose compositions and way of playing were fundamental to the development of “modern” Brazilian music - yes, Desafinado!;
    • Aquarela Brasileira - Radamés Gnattali was an arranger at Radio Nacional and this arrangement of Ary Barroso’s Aquarela do Brasil is kind of an inflexion point - the story is (always) more complicated, but the TL;DR is its importance lies in the use of samba rhythm in the orchestral parts, not only in the percussion section, as was previously usual (attention to the long notes in the melody accompanied by the same chromatic figure played by the tenor sax in 1 x 0 above);
    • Copacabana - there are two versions of the song here, both sung by Dick Farney (Sinatra’s influence on him is pretty clear). The first one was arranged by Radamés Gnattali and was a huge hit at the turn of the 1940s to the 50s. The song is kind of a symbol of the stylistic change from live music in cassinos (closed by the government in 1948) to small clubs in Copacabana where Bossa Nova and Samba-jazz would eventually be born;
    • Copacabana (second version) - also sung by Dick Farney, but recorded much later (couldn’t find the exact date) now in complete Bossa style - I thought it could be interesting to be able to compare both versions;
    • Chega de Saudade - João Gilberto’s 1959 recording of Chega de Saudade. Considered by practically everyone interested in music at that time as sounding absolutely novel and unprecedented: the singing, the lyrics, the arrangement, the guitar playing. Kind of Bossa Nova’s inaugural moment, the song has kind of a choro form and I once saw Jobim say in an interview that he had the idea when he saw his mother’s housemaid singing the choro Sonoroso and he thought something like “well, it seems people can remember a long melody and all these lyrics, after all…”;
    • Chega de Saudade - following the commentary I made about Chega de Saudade and the choro, here a 1963 version - right in the period where it was all happening - by the old-school mandolinist Jacob do Bandolim;
    • Estamos Aí - sung here by Leny Andrade in her debut album, totally positioned as “Modern Popular Music”, as they would define it, it shows very clearly the new style that was emerging - the whole scat singing section in the middle is really pointing to jazz and the lyrics talk about Bossa Nova itself;
    • Rapaz de Bem - Johnny Alf is one of the unsung heroes and precursor of Bossa Nova: the singing, the harmonic language, the compositional aesthetics… it was all there;
    • Embalo - a typical example of what was called samba-jazz back then;
    • Influência do Jazz - by one of the early Bossa Nova composers, Carlos Lyra, the song talks about how samba was influenced by jazz in a somewhat ambivalent manner and has acquired sort of a symbolic, manifesto-like status - we hear a younger Elis Regina singing it here, in the famous program/series O Fino da Bossa;
    • Preconceito - two versions, first Orlando Silva’s old school version (1941), then João Gilberto singing the same song years later (2003) and doing his thing;
    • Aos Pés da Cruz - one of the classic João Gilberto recordings. I added it to the playlist just because it’s so beautiful;
    • Elis’ first recording of Águas de Março is interesting because the guitar “levada” is sort of middle ground between the “modern samba” that will be so characteristic of her band’s playing and the more subdivided earlier style of playing samba;
    • Coisa N. 1 - Moacir Santos was also an arranger (they were called maestros, actually) at Rádio Nacional, where Jobim, Radamés, the Trio Surdina guys and many other important musicians worked. Moacir was the only black maestro of the time and had studied with classically-trained composers like Guerra-Peixe (also a maestro at Rádio Nacional) and H. J. Koellreutter (German composer who fled Germany during the rise of the Nazis and is credited as having introduced dodecaphonism in Brazil). He wrote the “Coisas” (Things) and numbered them as if they were “Opus 1”, “Opus 2” etc. Moacir is an entire chapter in itself and unfortunately one can’t find the original 1966 recording of the Coisas on Spotify, which used practically all important “modern” musicians living in Rio de Janeiro at the time. This recording was made in 2001 with Moacir’s approval and is true to the original arrangement, though the solos were improvised by the musicians;
    • O Mestre Sala dos Mares - written by Elis’ contemporaries João Bosco and Aldir Blanc, we first listen to Bosco’s recording of this samba, more in the traditional style, with percussion, cavaquinho, 7-string guitar and all, and then Elis’ version with most of the band that recorded Elis & Tom - sorry for insisting with the comparison thing, but I think it’s instructive and it takes a lot of examples to start grasping some subtleties;
    • É Com Esse Que Eu Vou - first listen to Elis’ version and then the traditional one. This is carnival music, really, and they did this wonderful modern, samba-jazzy version;
    • Como Nossos Pais - another, arguably as important, side of Elis. From 1976, this is perhaps her most famous recording and serves here to show that her repertoire was considerably wider than samba. People get really moved by this recording (understandably, at least to my Brazilian ears) and despite the stylistic differences, this is also the same core band we hear in Elis & Tom.

    ----LINKS-----

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    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    57 min
  • "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden

    Turns out some songs stand on their own, however memorable-slash-horrifying their music video might have been.

    Written by: Chris Cornell

    Produced by: Michael Beinhorn

    Album: Superunknown (1994)

    Listen/Buy via Songwhip

    ALSO DISCUSSED:

    • "Spoonman" and "The Day I Tried to Live" by Chris Cornell and Soundgarden from Superunknown, 1994
    • Kim Thayil interview at Songfacts
    • Norah Jones' cover of "Black Hole Sun," Live in 2021
    • "In My Life" by Lennon/McCartney from Rubber Soul, 1965
    • The 2021 Strong Songs interview with session guitarist Andrew Synowiec
    • "Tom Sawyer" by Rush from Moving Pictures, 1981

    --------------------

    FEBRUARY 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

    Robyn Metcalfe – Brian Templet – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Dan Austin – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave Florey

    FEBRUARY 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONS

    Suzanne – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian Johan Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Christopher Bruno – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Sean Murphy – Thirteen71 – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Whit Sidener – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather J. – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – Meghan O’Leary – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Wen – Geoff Golden – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
    Patreon | One-Time Donation

    🏠 HOMEPAGE

    👚 MERCH

    💬 DISCORD SERVER

    📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

    📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
    Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    57 min
  • "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel

    Strong Songs Season Six kicks off with a widely requested classic: Peter Gabriel's 1986 yearner "In Your Eyes." Because why hire one rhythm section when you can hire two for twice the price?

    Written by: Peter Gabriel

    Produced by: Daniel Lanois

    Album: So (1986)

    Listen/Buy via Songwhip

    ALSO DISCUSSED:

    • Rick Beato's Interview with So producer Daniel Lanois
    • "DIY" by Peter Gabriel from Peter Gabriel 2: Scratch, 1978
    • "Sledgehammer," "Don't Give Up," and "Big Time" by Gabriel from So, 1986
    • Kwame Ansah-Brew demonstrates the Talking Drum

    --------------------

    FEBRUARY 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

    Robyn Metcalfe – Brian Templet – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Dan Austin – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave Florey

    FEBRUARY 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONS

    Suzanne – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian Johan Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Christopher Bruno – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Sean Murphy – Thirteen71 – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Whit Sidener – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather J. – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – Meghan O’Leary – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Wen – Geoff Golden – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
    Patreon | One-Time Donation

    🏠 HOMEPAGE

    👚 MERCH

    💬 DISCORD SERVER

    📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

    📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
    Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    54 min
  • Some Bonus Beatles Covers

    On this bonus episode from May 2022, Kirk goes through a handful of other covers of the three Beatles songs he recently discussed on the show.

    • "Gotta Get You Into My Life" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (1966) and Blood, Sweat & Tears (1975)
    • "Eleanor Rigby" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Aretha Franklin (1968), Cody Fry (2021), Joshua Bell and Frankie Moreno (2009) and Zoot (1970)
    • "Blackbird" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Crosby, Stills & Nash (1982) and the Brad Mehldau Trio (1996)

    Also Featured/Discussed:

    • "Reelin' In The Years" by Steely Dan from Can't Buy a Thrill, 1972
    • The score video of Cody Fry's arrangement of "Eleanor Rigby"
    • Bicycle Race by Queen from Jazz, 1972

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
    Patreon | One-Time Donation

    🏠 HOMEPAGE

    👚 MERCH

    💬 DISCORD SERVER

    📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

    📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
    Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    28 min
  • Season Six Announcement!

    Kirk shares some details about the upcoming season of Strong Songs, which kicks off on February 9 in early access, and on February 23 in the main feed.

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 
    Patreon | Paypal

     🏠 HOMEPAGE
    strongsongspodcast.com

     👚 MERCH
    strongsongspodcast.com/store

     📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER
    newsletter.kirkhamilton.com

    📷 SOCIAL MEDIA 
    Instagram: @Kirk_Hamilton
    Bluesky: @kirkhamilton.com

    💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVER 
    strongsongspodcast.com/discord

    🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTS 
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS 
    kirkhamilton.com/gear

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC 
    kirkhamilton.com/music

    🎨 SHOW ART 
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    6 min
  • The Genius of Sonny Rollins (and Max Roach)

    (Originally recorded in May 2022) There's always more to say about Sonny Rollins, so Kirk shares a few of his other favorite Sonny moments, along with some additional love for Max Roach's drumming on Saxophone Colossus.

    REFERENCED:

    • "St. Thomas" and "Blue 7" by Sonny Rollins from Saxophone Colossus, 1956
    • "St. Thomas" as performed by Joshua Redman on Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard, 1992
    • "Four" by Miles Davis performed by Sonny Rollins on A Night at the Village Vanguard, 1957
    • "Without a Song" by Vincent Youmans recorded by Sonny Rollins on The Bridge, 1962
    • "I Know That You Know" also by Vincent Youmans from Sonny Side Up, 1959

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
    Patreon | One-Time Donation

    🏠 HOMEPAGE

    👚 MERCH

    💬 DISCORD SERVER

    📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

    📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
    Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    23 min
  • Weird Al For Nothin' And Your Jokes For Free

    Weird Al has been writing songs and recording parodies for four decades, and his musical footprint is unfathomably wide. In this minisode, originally released in October 2022, Kirk gets into a few things he didn't have room for in the main feed episode about "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota."

    FEATURED/DISCUSSED:

    • "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies" by Yankovic, a parody of "Money for Nothing" by Mark Knopfler & Definitely Sting from Brothers in Arms, 1985
    • A really interesting Sound on Sound article about the production of Brothers in Arms
    • "Spam," by Yankovic, a parody of "Stand" by REM from Green, 1989
    • "Smells Like Nirvana" by Yankovic, a parody of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana from Nevermind, 1991
    • "Livin' in the Fridge" by Yankovic, a parody of "Livin' on the Edge" by Aerosmith from Get a Grip, 1993
    • "Bohemian Polka," by Yankovic, a rearrangement of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Freddie Mercury and Queen from A Night at the Opera, 1975

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
    Patreon | One-Time Donation

    🏠 HOMEPAGE

    👚 MERCH

    💬 DISCORD SERVER

    📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

    📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
    Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    20 min
  • How Clyde Stubblefield Evolved Funk Drumming

    Recorded in August 2022 as an addendum to the main feed episode "Strong Grooves, Volume 1," special guest Russ Kleiner takes Kirk through the evolution of James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield's playing from 1967 to 1970.

    FEATURED/DISCUSSED:

    "Cold Sweat" (1967), "I Got The Feelin'" (1968), "Mother Popcorn" (1969), "Funky Drummer" (1970), all feat. Clyde Stubblefield on drums.

    SPECIAL GUEST: Russ Kleiner

    Russ is one of Kirk's oldest friends, a drummer and percussionist who currently lives, teaches, and performs in Connecticut. He has frequently offered drum insights to Kirk for various episodes of Strong Songs, and has been overdue for an actual appearance on the show. 

    Additional thanks to Nick D'Errico for his help recording and overseeing the drum session for this episode - find Nick online at https://www.nddrums.com.

    --------------------

    DRUM GROOVE QUIZ ANSWERS:

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -------- are you ready --------

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    1. Mother Popcorn

    2. I Got The Feelin'

    3. Cold Sweat

    4. Mother Popcorn

    5. Funky Drummer

    6. Cold Sweat

    7. I Got The Feelin'

    8. Mother Popcorn

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
    Patreon | One-Time Donation

    🏠 HOMEPAGE

    👚 MERCH

    💬 DISCORD SERVER

    📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

    📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
    Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    23 min
  • The Band: The Last Waltz

    For the Season Five finale, Kirk takes a look at The Band and Martin Scorsese's beloved 1978 concert film The Last Waltz - "The beginning of the beginning of the end of the beginning."

    Featuring music by The Band: Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    Album: The Last Waltz (1978)

    Listen/Buy via Songwhip

    ALSO DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:

    • "The Weight" by Robbie Robertson as covered by The Staple Singers and Aretha Franklin
    • Studio versions of several songs from the show, featured on The Band (1969) and Northern Lights - Southern Cross, 1975
    • A 2014 New Yorker interview with Mavis Staples
    • "Rockin' in Rhythm" by Duke Ellington, first recorded 1931
    • "The Next Waltz," a concert event held every November in Portland, OR
    • The Jeremy Wilson Foundation, helping support local musicians in need

    --------------------
    DECEMBER 2023 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

    Brian Templet – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Dan Austin – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave Florey

    DECEMBER 2023 HALF-NOTE PATRONS

    James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian Johan Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Christopher Bruno – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Sean Murphy – Jake Yumatilla – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Whit Sidener – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather Johnson – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – Meghan O’Leary – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Emma Sklar – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Olivia Bishop – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Wen – Geoff Golden – Rob F. – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Jarrod Schindler – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
    Patreon | One-Time Donation

    🏠 HOMEPAGE

    👚 MERCH

    💬 DISCORD SERVER

    📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

    📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
    Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    1 hr 6 min
  • Phish, Evanescence, and a Taylor Swift Dispute

    It's time for another mailbag episode, as Kirk takes on questions about Evanescence piano, Kelis bells, and counting in songs by Phish, Vessels, Ten Years After, and Kishi Bashi. All that, and a friendly dispute about a Taylor Swift song.

    • "Milkshake" by Neptunes/Kelis from Tasty, 2003
    • "Going Under" by Evanescence from Fallen, 2003
    • Joe Lovono plays the Aulochrome
    • Pat Metheney plays the Pikasso 42-string Guitar
    • Matt Glassmeyer and Jano Rix demonstrate the Shuitar
    • Future Man plays Synth Axe Drumitar live with the Flecktones
    • "What About Me?" by Snarky Puppy from We Like It Here, 2014
    • "Shimmer Intend Spark Groove Defend" feat. Nels Cline from What Is To Be Done, 2019
    • "Angst In My Pants" by Sparks from Angst in my Pants, 1982
    • "The Sky Was Pink" by Nathan Fake, covered by Vessels, 2012
    • "Hahaha, Pt. 2" by Kishi Bashi from Lighght, 2014
    • "Mound" by Phish from Rift, 1993
    • "I'd Love to Change the World" by Ten Years After from A Space in Time, 1971
    • "Bad Blood" (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar, 2015/2023
    • Elton John plays "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" at Dodger Stadium, 2022
    • The NIOSH Sound Level Meter App

    OUTRO SOLOIST: BJ Cord

    This episode's outro soloist is BJ Cord, a fantastic trumpet player based in Portland. BJ works at Monette trumpets making some of the most beautiful horns in the world, and is a regular presence on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monettetrumpets

    --------------------

    NOVEMBER 2023 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

    Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Dan Austin – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave Florey

    NOVEMBER 2023 HALF-NOTE PATRONS

    Ethan Laser – Brian John Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Christopher Bruno – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Sean Murphy – Jake Yumatilla – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Whit Sidener – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather Johnson – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – Meghan O’Leary – John Bauman – Dax and Dane Huddleston – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Brad Clark – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – Emma Sklar – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Olivia Bishop – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Wen – Geoff Golden – Rob F. – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Mark Perry – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Jarrod Schindler – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo

    ----LINKS-----

    💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
    Patreon | One-Time Donation

    🏠 HOMEPAGE

    👚 MERCH

    💬 DISCORD SERVER

    📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

    🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

    🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

    📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
    Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

    🎙️ KIRK’S OTHER PODCASTS:
    Triple Click | Definitely Fiction

    🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
    Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

    🎨 SHOW ART:
    Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

    1 hr

About Strong Songs

From the publisher's feed

Music: it's good. On each episode of Strong Songs, host Kirk Hamilton takes listeners inside a piece of music, breaking it down and figuring out what makes it work.

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